28 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xxi, n 0 . i 
differences in body temperature when measured at exactly the same time 
of the day but under the influence of the water drunk. 
SUMMARY OF RESULTS 
The several series of temperature observations on two dry cows lead 
to the following conclusions: 
(1) The rectal temperature is higher than the vaginal when measured 
at the same depth of 7 inches, showing an average excess of about 
0.3 0 F. The relative values, however, vary under different conditions 
but show a trend toward parallelism. 
(2) A fall in temperature invariably follows the drinking of water. 
This fall varies directly with the quantity of water drunk. After the 
effect of the water drunk in the morning has been overcome, the tem¬ 
perature remains fairly constant till about 2.30 p. m. When no water 
is drunk, the temperature is practically constant in the morning and 
in the afternoon till about 2.30 p. m. 
(3) There is a gradual rise in temperature in the afternoon from about 
2.30 p. m. to about 5 p. m. 
(4) Eating of feed raises the body temperature slightly for about % 
hour when the cows receive a maintenance ration. 
( 5 ) The temperature of the rectum or vagina is decidedly higher 
when measured as a depth of 6 or 7 inches than at a depth of 4 or 5 
inches, thus indicating a temperature gradient. 
(6) There is no material change in temperature between a depth of 
6 inches and a depth of 7 inches, whereas there is a distinct difference 
in temperature between a depth of 4 inches and a depth of 6 inches, 
thus showing the unreliability of measuring the temperature at a depth 
of less than 6 inches. 
(7) The position of the animal has hardly any effect on the body 
temperature, but there is some indication that the temperature is slightly 
affected when measured shortly after the change in position has been 
made (fig. 29). 
. ( 8 ) There is no difference in temperature when measured before or 
after defecation. 
(9) Daily fluctuations in body temperature depend to a great extent 
on the individuality of the cow. 
(10) A variation of o.8° F. in the rectal temperature of the same 
animal was observed, when measured at the same time of the day under 
identical conditions and outside the influence of water or feed (fig. 36), 
while under the influence of water a difference of 1.3 0 was observed in 
two consecutive days measured at the same time of the day (fig. 46). 
